Apparatus for supplying yarns



June 13, 1961 w. MACDONALD 2,988,299

APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING YARNS Filed Sept. 3, 1.957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E aINVENTOR WALTER MACDONALD BY M+777W4 ATTORNEYS June 13, 1961 w.MACDONALD 2,983,299

APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING YARNS Filed Sept. 3, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR WAL 7'51? MACDONALD BY M-HflzZ ATTORNEYS United States Patent2,988,299 APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING YARNS Walter Macdonald, 948 TauntonAve., Seekonk, Mass. Filed Sept. 3, 1957, Ser. No. 681,822 Claims. (Cl.242156.2)

This invention relates to apparatus for supplying yarns, and moreparticularly to creels, or the like, for delivering yarns from woundpackages.

There are many textile machines which require supplies of individualyarn ends for their operations. As an example, reference is made totwisting machines of the type in which a plurality of strands aresupplied from wound packages to a twisting device where they arecombined and twisted together into a single yarn. Jacquard loomsconstitute another type of textile machine in which individual yarn endsare supplied from Wound packages. In these looms, the warp yarns whichform the pattern of the fabric being woven must be supplied asindividual ends rather than as a warp sheet, because the several yarnsare utilized in the weaving process at different rates, depending uponthe pattern being formed. Still other examples will readily suggestthemselves to persons skilled in the art.

In almost all of these textile machines, it is essential that the yarnsbe supplied under uniform predetermined tension. If this requirement isnot met, the products produced by the machines may be so irregular as tobe unsatisfactory. For example, the lay of the strands in a plied yarnis a function of the tension under which the individual strands aresupplied to the twisting head. If one of the strands is supplied underappreciably less tension than the others, the final yarn will becomposed of a core about which the slack strand is coiled. While suchyarns might be desirable for some applications, it will be evident thatfor some other applications such yarns would be wholly unsuitable.

Similarly, in the weaving of loop pile and other decorative fabrics, thetensions under which the pile yarns are supplied to the loom are ofutmost importance, because variations in tension result in variations inthe heights of the pile loops. If the fabrics are to be uniform inappearance it is important that the apparatus for supplying the pileyarns to the loom be capable of close control.

In supplying yarns to these various types of textile machines, it is thepractice in some instances to support the yarn packages on framesseparable from the textile machines which actually operate upon theyarns. In other instances, however, the yarn packages are mounteddirectly on the machines themselves. The present invention isapplicable, in at least some of its aspects, to both of thesesituations. Hence, the term creel, as used in this application, will beunderstood to refer to any type of equipment for holding packages ofyarn and delivering the yarns from such packages, whether or not theframe upon which the various elements are mounted actually is separablefrom the textile machine being supplied.

At the present time, the form of creel most widely used in the textileindustry is a very simple structure. It includes a frame of some kind,one or more sets of yarn guides at one end of the frame, and a laterallyprojecting pin for each of the yarn packages to be supported on thecreel. The pin receives the yarn package itself in such a manner thatthe package may rotate about the axis of the pin as the yarn iswithdrawn from the package. Since the internal diameter of the yarnpackage is greater than the diameter of the pin, it is necessary toinsert bushings, or the like, between the pin and the core of thepackage to make the axis of rotation of the package coincident with theaxis of the pin. In this form of creel, the yarn leading from eachpackage is looped around a pairof guide pins and passed directly to oneof the yarn guides at the end of the frame. Each yarn is tensioned bysuspending one or more U-shaped, hairpin weights upon the portions ofthe yarn passing respectively to and from the second pin of the pair.

Such creels are subject to a number of disadvantages. One of these isthat it is not possible to tension the yarns uniformly. The actual forcedelivered by the hairpin weights varies with the inclinations of theportions of the strand contacted by such weights, and the force requiredto rotate the package varies with the diameter of the package.

Moreover, the yarn is guided in such a. fashion that it frequently slipsoff the ends of the package because of what are known in the trade ascobwebs. Cobwebs result from the spiral disposition of the yarn on thepackage. At the ends of the package the spiral must be reversed duringthe winding process, leaving small increments of yarn disposed on theends of the package rather than upon its circumference. When theunwinding yarn is led away from such a package in a radial direction,and when the point of departure of the yarn from the surface of thepackage reaches an end of the package, the short length of yarnextending across the end of the package is freed without additionalrotation of the package. Therefore, it slips off the package so readilythat substantially all tension is removed from the yarn at that moment.When this occurs, the hairpin weights fall rapidly and the yarnfrequently is disengaged from the guide pin adjacent the package. Then,the hairpin weights fall to the floor and unwind excessive amounts ofyarn from the package, so that the yarn must be again threaded up andthe hairpin weights replaced in order to proceed with the textileoperation being performed.

Another deficiency in creels of the type now in general use is that theseveral yarns frequently come into contact with each other withresulting abrasion thereof. This undesirable eifect is attributable tothe fact that each yarn leaves its guide pin at a point which moves backand forth as the yarn is drawn from different portions of the surface ofthe yarn package. The yarn guides at the end of the creel, however, arefixed, with the result that each yarn moves back and forth in afan-shaped pattern as it is being withdrawn from the creel. Since therates of delivery of the several yarns in the creel seldom are uniform,it is inevitable that these fan-shaped paths will cross each other fromtime to time, and where a large number of yarn packages are supported inthe creel, the space limitations make it impossible to prevent contactbetween the crossing yarns. Still another deficiency in creels of thistype is that it is not possible to thread up the yarns prior to the timesuch yarns are to be tied-in with respect to the textile machine inwhich they are to be utilized. When hairpin weights are employed as thetension means for the yarns, it is essential that the ends of the yarnsbe positively held in some way. Otherwise, the ends will be drawn by theweight of the pins in a reverse direction from that intended, and itwill be necessary to re-thread the creel. Hence, the present practice isto thread the creel at the time of the tying-in operation. This practiceis a wasteful one in thatthe machine must be shut down while the creelis being threaded, the ends tied in, and the several hundred hairpinweights placed in proper position.

Some of these deficiencies have been recognized heretofore, and variousproposals have been advanced for their correction. However, none ofthese proposals has come into general use in the textile industry. Insome instances the proposed devices have not been effective under actualmill conditions, and in other instances, the proposed structures havebeen either too expensive or too complicated to use, to besastisfactory.

It is a general object of this invention to provide improved apparatusfor supplying yarns, which will be economical to manufacture, convenientto use, and efficient and durable in operation.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide apparatus forsupplying yarns from wound packages at predetermined tensions which willbe uniform in spite of variations in the rate of yarn delivery and thediameter of the yarn package.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for supplyingyarns from wound packages in which the tension of the yarn will not beaffected by the existence of cobwebs or other ununiformities in the yarnpackages.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a creel constructionin which yarns may be delivered from a large number of packages withoutcontacting each other at any time.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a creel with yarntensioning means such that the creel may be threaded up and thetensioning means adjusted prior to the time when it is desired toutilize the yarns in a textile machine. Attainment of this objectivemakes it possible to keep the textile machine in operation during theperiod of time required to thread up the creel and place the yarntensioning means in operative condition. The foregoing and other objectsare realized, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in acreel having a plurality of yarn guide bars at one of its ends andhaving a plurality of yarn supplying and tensioning units thereon fromwhich individual yarns may be led to guide openings in the yarn guidebars.

Each of the yarn supplying and tensioning units preferably includes arotatable spindle for receiving a yarn package such as a cop, a bobbin,or a spool. Such spindle is freely rotatable, but is ordinarilyrestrained against uncontrolled rotation by means of a brake whichincludes a braking surface on the spindle and a brake arm biased intocontact with such braking surface by means of a spring. The force ofthis spring may be adjusted as desired to provide a braking force whichwill conform to the requirements of the textile operation to beperformed.

The yarn passing from the package moves over a curved wire guide to agroup of rotatable guides, the axes of which are fixed with respect tothe axis of the spindle. The curvature of the wire guide and thepositions of the guides are factors of considerable importance. In thepreferred embodiment of the invention, these factors are selected sothat the thread path from any point on the surface of the yarn packageto the last of the rotatable guides is of substantially constant length,and so that the yarn is withdrawn from the end portions of the packagealong paths which are inclined with respect to the length of the packagein such a way as 'to glide the cobwebbed portions of the yarn back ontothe periphery of the package.

After passing the last of the rotatable guides mentioned above, the yarnis looped 180 degrees around a rotatable guide carried by the brake armof the unit and is then led over a wire guide from which the yarn maypass to the end of the creel. The yarn passes to and from its rotatableguide along parallel paths and cooperates with the guide in such a waythat a force applied to the end of the yarn tends to release the brake.Therefore, the braking action upon the spindle is controlled by theyarn, 'and' the total tension on the feeding yarn is substantiallyindependent of both the rate of feed and the diameter of the package.

In passing from the final guide member of its yarn supplying 'andtension unit, each yarn always proceeds from a fixed point. Thus,the'path of each yar'n to a yarn guide bar at the end of the 'creel isfixed. This characteristic cf the present invention makes it possible toarrange a large number of yarns in the creel in such a manner that theirpaths never cross or contact each other. In the preferred embodiment,for example, the paths of the yarns are such that the yarns of one groupare disposed in a fan-shaped pattern in one plane, whilethe paths ofyarns in the other groups are disposed in other planes.

These paths may be established prior to the time when it is desired totie-in the several yarns in a textile operation, because the tensioningmeans imposes no force upon a yarn associated therewith until the end ofthe yarn is pulled. When the yarn is at rest, the entire force of thetensioning spring is applied to the brake arm rather than to the yarn.Thus, it is possible to pre-set the tensioning means on the creel, andby using a suitable knot-tying device, a new set of yarns can be broughtinto operative relation with respect to a textile machine in a fewminutes, as compared with the period of several hours customarilyrequired for a change-over operation.

A better understanding of the invention and its many advantages will begained from a consideration of the following detailed description of theembodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a yarn supplying and tensioningunit according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view illustrating the opposite side of the unitof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially along theline 3-3 in FIG. 1, and showing the spindle of the unit in elevation;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the paths taken by a pluralityof yarns in one plane as they pass from units of the type illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 4 to a yarn guide bar at the end of a creel; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portable creel embodying theprinciples of the invention, and in which a central portion of the creelhas been broken away.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the illustrated yarnsupplying and tensioning unit 1 includes a base plate or support 2 ofsuitable material. base plate 2 is not essential in all cases, but itforms a convenient means for grouping the several elements of a yarnsupplying and tensioning unit together prior to the attachment of suchelements to a creel frame. As illustrated, the base plate 2 is providedwith two holes 4 therein, through which screws, bolts, or the like, maybe passed to connect the base plate 2 to the frame of a creel.

Fixed rigidly to the base 2 and extending laterally therefrom is anelongated metal pin 6 which receives a spindle 8 thereon for rotation.The spindle 8 may be of molded nylon, or it may be of any other suitableconstruction that will permit it to rotate freely with respect to thepin 6. It is held in position on the pin 6 by means of a snap ring orwasher 10 on the outer end of the pin 6 and is arranged to hear at itsinner end against a bushing element 12 integral with or rigidlyconnected to the base plate 2.

The body of the spindle 8 includes a plurality of tapered laterallyprojecting fins 14 for engaging the inner surface of a yarn package 16removab-ly positioned upon the spindle 8. The fins 14 assure that thespindle 8 will rotate with the yarn package 16 at all times.

The package 16 may be of any of the types commonly used in the textileindustry. As illustrated, it is a simple cardboard tube having a mass ofyarn wound thereon in a spiral pattern conforming to the traverse of thewinding mechanism. This type of package is economical to produce and isused extensively in many types of textile operations. It will beunderstood also that the spindle 8 can be made to various shapes andsizes to accommodate different packages, such as tubes, cones, etc.

The end of the spindle '8 closest to the base plate 2 is enlarged toprovide a braking surface 18 extendingc'ir- Ctlmferentially of thespindle. braking surface 18 cooperates with a brake arm 20 mounted forpivotal movement upon a pin 22 fixed rigidly to the base plate 2 of theunit. The arm 20 is confined to swinging movements in a planesubstantially parallel to the base plate 2 by means of a bearing member24 rigid with the base plate 2 and a head 26 on the pin 22.

The brake arm 20 normally is held in contact with the braking surface 18on the spindle 8 by means of a coil spring 28 extending between a pin 30on the outer end of the arm 20 and one of a series of fingers 32suitably fixed in position with respect to the base plate 2. The fingers32 in the illustrated embodiment of the invention are projections on theedge of a bracket 34. This bracket 34 angular in horizontal crosssection, as will be evident from FIGS. 1 and 2. The face thereofextending parallel to the base plate 2 is provided with a slot 36through which a screw 38 may extend into the base plate 2. Thisconstruction permits the entire bracket 34 to be shifted along the baseplate 2, when desired, to vary the distances between the fingers 32 andthe end of the brake arm 20. The bracket 34 is held inrproper alignmentduring such adjustments by means of a guide 40 fixed to or integral withthe base plate 2.

It will be seen that after the bracket 34 has been fixed with respect tothe base plate 2, the tension of the spring may be readily changed toany one of four predetermined values, simply by shifting the end of thespring 28 from one of the fingers 32 to another. This principle may beextended to whatever extent seems desirable in a particular applicationby increasing the number of fingers 32 on the bracket 34. It should benoted that the spring 28 may be detached easily from both the pin 30 andthe finger 32. Therefore, if the adjustments just described should proveinadequate for some particular application, the replacement of thespring 28 with a spring of different size would be a very simpleoperation.

The unit 1 also includes an elongated wire 42 fixed rigidly at its endsto the base plate 2 and extending laterally therefrom in a planesubstantially parallel to the axis of the spindle 8. The wire 42 isshaped to provide an elongated, smoothly curved, yarn-guiding surface 44and two spring loops 46 on the side thereof opposite the curved surface44. The loops 46 receive and hold mounting plugs 48 which carry pins 50projecting laterally from the side thereof opposite the spindle 8.

Circumferentially grooved yarn guides 52 and 54 are rotatably mountedupon these pins 50. A third, circumferentially grooved yarn guide 56 isrotatably mount ed upon the pin 30 projecting from the outer end of thebrake arm 20, and it is preferred that this guide 56 be positioned inthe same plane as the guides 52 and 54.

The unit 1 also includes a straight wire 58 fixed at one of its ends tothe base plate 2 and extending laterally therefrom adjacent that portionof the wire 42 containing the loops 46. The inner end portion of thewire 58 serves as a guide for the yarn passing from the rotatable guide56 and, as will be apparent as the description proceeds, the outer endportion of the wire 58 may serve as a support for other yarns in thecreel.

The relationships between the several parts just described can beunderstood most readily by considering the path of a yarn 60 passingfrom the package 16 to the final wire guide 58. The yarn 60 passes fromthe package 16 around the curved surface 44 of the wire 42, around aportion of the circumference of the rotatable guide 52, around a portionof the circumference of the rotatable guide 54, around a portion of thecircumference of the rotatable guide 56, and then over the wire guide58. After the yarn 60 passes over the wire guide 58, it is led away fromthe unit 1 in a direction approximately parallel to the base plate 2,and, therefore, this portion of the yarn 60 is not visible in FIG. 1. Ifthe yarn path were illustrated FIG. 3, this portion would appear as astraight line extending to the right from the upper edge of the wire 58in a direction approximately parallel to the upper edge of the baseplate 2.

. It will be seen from FIG. 1 that the rotatable guide 52 is disposedintermediate the ends of the yarn package 16 and approximately at thecenter of curvature of the curved yarn-guiding surface 44 of the wire42. Therefore, as the yarn 60 is. withdrawn from the package 16, itmoves back and forth along the curved surface 44 in accordance with thechanges in the point of depasture of the yarn 60 from the periphery ofthe package 16 which result from the spiral or helical disposition ofthe yarn on the package. In the illustrated yarn path, the yarn leavesan end portion of the package 16 and passes over an adjacent end portion61 of the surface 44. At other times, however, the yarn 60 will leadfrom a central portion of the yarn package 16 over a central portion 62of the curved surface 44, and will lead from the opposite end portion ofthe package 16 over the opposite end portion 63 of the curved surface44.

Two characteristics of the curved, yarn-guiding surface 44 are ofparticular interest. One is that the end portions 61 and 63 of thissurface 44 over which the yarn 60 moves in passing fiom the end portionsof the package 16 to the rotatable guide 52, are located intermediatethe ends of the package 16. Consequently, the path taken by the yarn 60in passing from the package 16 to the curved surface 44 of the wire 42is such that, as the unwinding yarn approaches the end of the package16, it is being pulled away from the package 16 in a direction having anaxial component as well as a radial component. Referring specifically toFIG. 1, for example, it will be seen that the portion of the yarn 60between the package 16 and the curved surface 44 of the wire 42 extendsto the left of this view. As will be apparent, this arrangementautomatically eliminates cobwebs, becausethe direction of removal of theyarn from the package 16 draws the yarn back onto the periphery of thepackage. Hence, these portions unwind in a manner similar to thoseportions of the yarn disposed on the circumference of the package 16.

The significance of this result will be evident when it is recalledthat, in other creel constructions, cobwebs cause a great deal ofdifficulty. As explained above, the type of creels most widely usedprior to the present invention have no means or provisions fordisentangling cobwebs and the cobwebbed portions of the yarn arepermitted to slip off the ends of the package, so that the effectivenessof the yarn-tensioning means is interrupted and the yarn often becomesso entangled that it is necessary to rethread the creel and reset thehairpin tensions. The present invention entirely overcomes thisdifficulty.

The other characteristic of the curved yarn-guiding surface 44 whichshould be noted particularly is that its central portion 62 is spacedsubstantially farther away from the axis of the package 16 than are itsend portions 61 and 63. This minimizes those variations in the length ofthe yarn path from the package 16 to the rotatable guide 54 which mightotherwise result from the traverse of the yarn from end to end of thepackage 16 as it is being withdrawn. Hence, the traverse of the yarnproduces no variations in yarn tension.

Another portion of the yarn path which warrants special attention isthat which extends between the guide 54 and the guide 58. It will benoted that in this portion, the yarn passes in two substantiallyparallel but oppositely directed courses. Each of these courses issubstantially parallel to the plane in which the brake arm 20 moves asit swings about its pivot 22. This relationship is important because,changes in the position of the guide 56 carried by the brake arm 20, donot afiect the loading of the yarn 60 passing around the guide 56.Throughout the entire range of brake arm movements normally to beanticipated in the operation of the unit 1, the courses of the yarn 60leading to and from the guide 56 are in alignment with the direction inwhich the force of the spring 28 is applied to the brake arm 20.

The significance of this relationship can perhaps be best understood bycontrasting the results produced with those customarily produced by thehairpin weights now extensively used in creels. The force applied bysuch weights is always directed downwardly, but the yarn is not alwayshorizontal. Its inclination varies in accordance with the rate of feed,as well as other factors. Consequently, the effective force applied tothe yarn by the weights varies approximately in accordance with theangle of inclination of the yarn.

When a force is applied to the end of the yarn 60, the load of thespring 28 is shifted, at least partially, from the bearing surface 18 ofthe spindle to the yarn 60. In practice, this takes place quite rapidly,but it may be helpful to visualize the situation as one in which thetension in the yarn is built up gradually. Initially, the force appliedby the yarn to the guide 56 will not be suficient to balance the forceof the spring 28, and the braking action between the brake arm 20 andthe bearing surface 18 on the spindle 8 will be sufficient to maintainthe spindle 8 and the pack-age 16 stationary. As the tension builds up,however, the braking force on the spindle 8 will gradually diminish.Eventually, a point will be reached at which the yarn tension willexceed the frictional resistance of the brake. At this point, thepackage 16 will rotate to let off the yarn 60. When no more yarn isrequired by the textile machine, the brake arm 20 will again be appliedto the braking surface 18 under the force of the spring 28.

Although it will be evident that the yarn supplying and tensioning unit1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 might be used to advantage in anyenvironment in which it is desired to supply yarns from Wound packagesat uniform tensions, it is especially advantageous when used incooperation With similar units in a creel or the like, where a pluralityof yarns are supplied to a textile machine. FIG. 5 is a diagrammaticview which suggests one of the advantages to be obtained in utilizingthe unit of FIG. 1 in a creel. For purposes of orientation, this viewmay be considered a plan view of the creel. However, this is notessential, because the apparatus of this invention can be operated atvarious inclinations with respect to the vertical without altering itsperformance in any way.

In FIG. 5, the creel frame has been designated generally by the numeral64. At its forward end, it carries a horizontally extending guide bar 65having holes therein at intervals along its length for the reception ofyarns '66 passing from the creel to some textile machine. Alsoillustrated in FIG. 5 are two groups of yarn tensioning and supplyingunits 1 and 1', each of which conforms generally in construction to theunit 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4. The only difference between theunits 1 and 1' is that the units 1 are assembled for right hand mountingand the units 1 are assembled for left hand mounting.

The units of the two groups are disposed upon opposite sides of thecreel frame 64. The units 1 of one group cooperate with one side of theguide bar 65 and the units 1 of the other group cooperate with the otherside of the guide bar 65. The several units are attached to the creelframe 64 with their guide wires 58 disposed in the same horizontal planeas the guide bar 65 at the front end of the creel. Hence, asillustrated, the yarns 66 from a group of the units 1 or 1 leave theirrespective units at points disposed on a line perpendicular to the guidebar 65, and they are all disposed in the same plane. Contact between theyarns of each group is prevented by leading the yarn from the unitclosest to the guide bar 65 through the innermost hole therein, byleading the yarn from the second unit of the group through the sec andhole in the guide bar 65, etc. This arrangement res ults ina fan-shapedpattern in which each yarn moves 7 through a fixed path, and in whichthe paths of the sev- 8 eral yarns are spaced from each other at alltimes. Since the yarns never come into contact with each other, thepresent invention eliminates the yarn-to-yarn abrasion which has beencharacteristic of prior creels.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 to 4, attention is invited to the fact thatthe straight guide wire 58 of the unit 1 is elongated and is disposedabove the other elements of the unit 1. Since only the inner end portionof this wire 58 is contacted by the yarn from the package 16 carried bythe unit 1, a substantial portion of its length is available to serve asa support for other yarns. This is advantageous in connection with thefan-shaped thread pattern shown in FIG. 5, because the yarn from each ofthe units 1 or 1', except those unitsimmediately adjacent to the guidebar 65, must pass over units. The wires 58 support these yarns so thatthey will not snag and become entangled with the packages beneath them.

The fan-shaped pattern shown in FIG. 5 may be repeated again and againin difierent horizontal planes, so that the entire creel may supply avery large number of yarn ends. Such an arrangement is illustrated inFIG. 6.

The creel frame 64 shown in FIG. 6 includes, a base 68 made up from aplurality of pieces of metal welded or otherwise secured together.Extending along the central axis of the base 68 are two fixed members 70suitably spaced apart for the reception of the lower ends of a number ofvertical channel members 72. Each of the channel members is welded orotherwise secured to the members 70 in such a manner as to make theframe 64 a rigid structure. A cap bar 74 is connected to the upper endsof the several vertical channel members 72.

As illustrated, the creel in FIG. 6 is portable, in that the base 68 isprovided with casters or wheels 76 and 78. It is preferred that theWheels 78 be mounted for swivelling movements to enhance themaneuverability of the creel.

Each of the vertical channel members 72, except the end one shown at theright of FIG. 6, carries a vertical series of yarn supplying andtensioning units 1 and 1, of the type illustrated in detail in FIGS. 1to 4, on each of its lateral faces. The scale of FIG. 6 is such that itis not possible to illustrate the individual units completely, butenough of the structure of each of the illustrated units has been shownso that, by referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the reader will readilyunderstand the disposition of the units.

Moreover, it will be noted that only a few of the units 1 and 1' havebeen illustrated in FIG. 6. In practice, each of the vertical channels72 may carry a complete series of the units on each of its lateralfaces. The number of units in such a series would conform to the numberof horizontally extending guide bars 65 attached to the endmost channelmember 72 of the frame 64. It will be understood, therefore, that thecomplete creel would present a plurality of vertically spaced threadpatterns similar to that suggested in FIG. 5.

Although a specific embodiment of the inventionhas been described indetail, various modifications and variations will be apparent to personsskilled in the art. Moreover, it will be evident that it is not alwaysessensential that all of the novel features of the invention be utilizedtogether. It is intended, therefore, that the foregoing description beconsidered as exemplary only, and that the scope of the invention beascertained from the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for controlling the delivery of yarn from wound packages,comprising rotatable spindle means for supporting a yarn package andhaving a peripheral braking surface disposed thereon, a rigid brake armmounted "for swinging movement into and out of contact with said brakingsurface and being normally biased into contact with such brakingsurface, a yarn guide carried by said brake arm, and means for guiding ayarn being withdrawn from said package along a path such that said 'yarnis delivered to said yarn guide, carried by said brake arminapproximately the same direction as said yarn guide moves under theinfluence of the bias applied to said brake arm and is delivered fromsaid guide in a substantially parallel but opposite direction, whereby,'when said yarn is tensioned, a force proportional to the tension in theyarn is applied to said yarn guide in a direction tending to cause saidbrake arm to move against its bias and reduce the braking force exertedthereby ,upon said braking surface of said spindle means.

2. Apparatus for controlling the delivery of yarn from wound packages,comprising a base, spindle means rotatably mounted on said base forsupporting a yarn package and having a peripheral braking surfacedisposed between said package and said base, a rigid brake arm pivotallymounted on said base for swinging movement about an axis substantiallyparallel to said spindle into and out of contact with said brakingsurface, a spring connected to said brake arm for urging it into contactwith said braking surface, a yarn guide mounted on said brake arm formovement therewith, and means for guiding a yarn being withdrawn fromsaid package along a path such that said yarn is delivered to said yarnguide in approximately the same direction as said yarn guide moves underthe influence of said spring and is delivered from said yarn guide in asubstantially parallel but opposite direction, whereby, when said yarnis lensioned, a force proportional to the tension in the yarn is appliedto saidyarn guide in such a direction as to balance, at least partially,the force exerted by said spring upon said brake arm and thereby toreduce the braking force exerted by said brake arm upon said brakingsurface of said spindle means.

3. Apparatus for controlling the delivery of yarn from wound packages,comprising a base, spindle means rotatably mounted on said base forsupporting a yarn package and having a peripheral braking surfacedisposed between said package and said base, a brake arm pivotallymounted on said base for swinging movement about an axis substantiallyparallel to said spindle into and out of contact with said brakingsurface, a group of spring-holding elements adjustably fixed to saidbase with the several elements being disposedat different distancesfromthe path of said brake arm, a spring connected to said brake arm andconnected also to a selected one ofsaid spring-holding elements forproviding a regulatable bias urging said brake arm into contact withsaidbraking surface, ayarn guide mounted on said brake arm for movementtherewith, and means for guiding a yarn being withdrawn from saidpackage along a path such that said yarn is delivered to said yarn guidein approximately the same direction as said yarn guide moves under theinfluence of said spring and is delivered from said yarn guide in asubstantially parallel but opposite direction, whereby, when said yarnis tensioned, a force proportional to the tension in the yarn is appliedto said yarn guide in such a direction as to balance, at leastpartially, the force exerted by said spring upon said brake arm andthereby to reduce the braking force exerted by said brake arm upon saidbraking surface of said spindle means.

4. Apparatus for controlling the delivery of yarn from wound packages,comprising a base, spindle means rotatably mounted on said base forsupporting a yarn package and having a peripheral braking surfacedisposed between said package and said base, a rigid brake arm pivotallymounted on said base for swinging movement about an axis substantiallyparallel to said spindle into and out of contact with said brakingsurface, a spring connected to said brake arm for urging it into contactwith said braking surface, a rotatable yarn guide mounted on said brakearm for movement therewith, and means for guiding a yarn being withdrawnfrom said package along a path having an elongated U-shaped portion inwhich said yarn is delivered to said yarn guide in approximately thesame direction as said yarn guide moves-under the influence of saidspring, is passed approximately around said yarn guide, and is deliveredfrom said yarn guide in a substantially parallel but opposite direction,whereby, when said yarn is tensioned, a force proportional to thetension in the yarn is applied to said yarn guide in such a direction asto balance, at least partially, the force exerted by said spring uponsaid brake arm and thereby to reduce the braking force exerted by saidbrake arm upon said braking surface of said spindle means.

5. Apparatus for controlling the delivery of yarn from a generallycylindrical package in which the yarn is disposed in a large number ofgenerally helical layers, comprising a base, a spindle rotatably mountedon said base for supporting the yarn package and having a peripheralbraking surface disposed between said package and said base, a rigidbrake arm pivotally mounted on said base for swinging movement about anaxis substantially parallel to said spindle into and out of contact withsaid braking surface, a spring connected to said brake arm for urging itinto contact with said braking surface, a yarn guide carried by saidbrake arm for movement therewith, and means for guiding a yarn beingwithdrawn from the package along a path such that the yarn is drawn fromthe end portions of the package in directions having both radial andaxial components and such-that said yarn is delivered to said yarn guidein approximately the same direction as said yarn guide moves under theinfluence of said spring and is delivered from said yarn guide in asubstantially parallel but opposite direction.

6. Apparatus for controlling the delivery Olf yarn from a generallycylindrical package in which the yarn is wound in the form of a largenumber of generally helical layers, comprising means for mounting theyarn package for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a first yarnguide close to but spaced from the periphery of the package 'and havingan elongated, smoothly curved, yarnguiding surface disposed in a planesubstantially parallel to the axis of the yarn package, and a secondyarn guide located intermediate the ends of the package and adjacent apoint in said plane approximately at the center of curvature of saidyarn-guiding surface for receiving yarn delivered from the periphery ofthe package over said surface, said yarn-guiding surface including acentral portion over which the yarn passes in moving from the centralportion of the package to said second yarn guide and end portions overwhich the yarn passes in moving from the end portions of the package tosaid second yarn guide, said end portions of said surface being disposedintermediate the ends of said package, whereby the yarn is withdrawnfrom each end of the package in a direction having both radial and axialcomponents.

7. Apparatus for controlling the delivery of yarn from a generallycylindrical package in which the yarn is wound in the form of a largenumber of generally helical layers, comprising a rotatable spindle forsupporting the yarn package for rotation about its longitudinal axis,braking means for retarding the rotation of said spindle, a first guideclose to but spaced from the periphery of the package and having anelongated, smoothly curved, yarn-guiding surface disposed in a planesubstantially parallel to the axis of the yarn package, and a secondyarn guide located intermediate the ends of the package and adjacent apoint in said plane approximately at the center of curvature of saidyarn-guiding surface for receiving yarn delivered from the periphery ofthe package over said surface, said yarn-guiding surface including acentral portion over which the yarn passes in moving from the centralportion of the package to said second yarn guide and end portions overwhich the yarn passes in moving from the end portions of the package tosaid second yarn guide, said end portions of said surface being disposedintermediate the end portions of said package, whereby the yarn iswithdrawn from each end 11 of the package in a direction having bothradial and axial components.

8. Apparatus for controlling the delivery of yarn from a generallycylindrical package in which the yarn is disposed in a large number ofgenerally helical layers, comprising means for mounting the yarn packagefor rotation about its longitudinal axis, a first yarn guide close tobut spaced from the periphery of the package and having an elongated,smoothly curved, yarn-guiding surface disposed in a plane substantiallyparallel to the axis of the yarn package, and a second yarn guidelocated intermediate the ends of the package and adjacent a point insaid plane approximately at the center of curvature of said yarn-guidingsurface for receiving yarn delivered from the periphery of the packageover said surface, said curved yarn-guiding surface including a centralportion over which the yarn passes in moving from the central portion ofthe package to said second yarn guide and end portions over which theyarn passes in moving from the end portions of the package to saidsecond yarn guide, said central portion of said surface being spacedsubstantially farther than said end portions of said surface from theline formed by the intersection of said plane with a plane perpendicularthereto and containing the axis of the package, whereby variations inthe length of the yarn path from the periphery of the package to saidsecond yarn guide, as the yarn moves back and forth along said curvedsurface in accordance with changes in the point of departure of the yarnfrom the package, are minimized.

9. Apparatus for controlling the delivery of yarn from a generallycylindrical package in which the yarn is disposed in a large number ofgenerally helical layers, comprising a rotatable spindle for supportingthe yarn package for rotation about its longitudinal axis, braking meansfor retarding the rotation of said spindle, a wire guide close to butspaced from the periphery of the package and having an elongated,smoothly curved, yarnguiding surface disposed in a plane substantiallyparallel to the axis of the yarn package, and a rotatable yarn guidelocated intermediate the ends of the package and adjacent said planewith its axis approximately perpendicular to said plane at a point closeto the center of curvature of said yarn-guiding surface, said curvedyarnguiding surface including a central portion over which the yarnpasses in moving from the central portion of the package to saidrotatable yarn guide and end portions over which the yarn passes inmoving from the end portions of the package to said rotatable yarnguide, said central portion of said surface being spaced sub--stantially farther than said end portions of said surface from the lineformed by the intersection of said plane with a plane perpendicularthereto and containing the axis of the package, and said end portions ofsaid surface being disposed intermediate the ends of said package.

10. Apparatus for controlling the delivery of yarn from a generallycylindrical package in which the yarn is disposed in a large number ofgenerally helical layers, comprising a rotatable spindle for mountingthe yarn package for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a first yarnguide close to but spaced from the periphery of the package and havingan elongated, smoothly curved, yarnguiding surface disposed in a planesubstantially parallel to the axis of the yarn package, a second yarnguide located intermediate the ends of the package for receiving yarndelivered from the periphery of the package over said surface, saidcurved yarn-guiding surface including a central portion over which theyarn passes in moving from the central portion of the package to saidsecond yarn guide and end portions over which the yarn passes in movingfrom the end portions of the package to said second yarn guide, thelengths of the yarn paths from the end portions of the package over saidsurface to said second yarn guide being substantially equal to thelength of the yarn path from the central portion of the package oversaid surface to said second yarn guide, said spindle having a brakingsurface thereon, a rigid brake arm movable into and out of engagementwith said braking surface, a spring urging said brake arm intoengagement with said braking surface for retarding rotation of saidpackage, and a yarn guide carried by said brake arm for guiding saidyarn so that the tension in the yarn opposes the force of said spring toreduce the braking force on the spindle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,228,410 Colman June 5, 1917 1,483,563 Wells Feb. 12, 1924 1,547,596Longvall July 28, 1925 1,589,435 Scott June 22, 1926 2,542,097 Shafferet a1 Feb. 20, 1951 2,768,797 Herbert et a1. Oct. 30, 1956

